I Feel Like A Failure

[SheriRN]

I worked very hard to get to where I am today. However, I am burnt out after only 6 years of nursing. I never wanted to work in the hospital and only worked in SNFs providing bedside care. I grew a distaste for bedside nursing over the years and my mental health has declined. I am unhappy most of the time and gained over 70 pounds which is another reason I fell in to a deep depression. The fake smile I have to put on every day and after verbal abuse from patients and the work load has drained and discouraged me. 

I try to remind myself to keep pushing forward but I can honestly say that I am over it. I am searching for another challenge that doesn't involve direct patient care and I am having a difficult time. I LOVE nursing but there HAS to be an area of nursing that is for ME. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

No judgement from me for leaving a job that makes you feel so awful about working. I hope you cast a wide net to search and find a better 'fit' instead of having a fit about the work you are in. 

Best of luck to you!

[SheriRN]

41 minutes ago, No Stars In My Eyes said:

No judgement from me for leaving a job that makes you feel so awful about working. I hope you cast a wide net to search and find a better 'fit' instead of having a fit about the work you are in. 

Best of luck to you!

Thank you! I am actively seeking my next journey in an area that I'll love. Hoping all goes well.

[HiddenAngels]

Sherri, don't feel like a failure, it's okay (cyberhug)?.

It will most likely come down to time and finances when you want to make that switch.  You need time to focus as you spread your wings and then there's money, everybody needs money.  But more to the point, there's case mgmt, utilization review and some others.  Once I had a 2nd job as a telephone triage nurse and that was great.  When uncertain, I sent them to the ED (especially obstetrics, I think I sent every pregnant patient with symptoms to the ED ?). 

What about climbing corporate, Mgmt, Quality Control, those sorts of things.

[scott bump, BSN, RN]

gosh I've been there, worked every level of psych nursing there is,   the last place was a Nurse Manager I was told "holds things over her staff"   I tested that and yup she sure did!   When one whistle blows in the VA?  at least when I was working as a Nurse there yes they retaliate!  I'm fighting back now....  the unit before? had 3 complete cycles of staff in 10 years except for 2 staff that had been through all three!   hmmmm  well there's the problem!  A Bully NP that has been called on her behavior more than once...   the last time she was investigated for her behavior?  she came back with the excuse "that's just the way I am"    Think about how the patients suffer when a unit has that much turn moil?   looking back I would not change one thing,, now a whopping law suit....  I knew I did the right thing whistle blowing!  hope it helps you in some way!